New Haven Railroad Alco RS-1 #0668 is an Atlas O Master model (item 6888-2) delivered in March 2004 at MSRP $429.95 with TMCC. I prefer the look of the RS-1 to the RS-2 and RS-3 partly because the roof looks like one on a steam engine. I have an MTH Railking New Haven RS-1 on pre-order.

ALCO built RS-1s between 1941 and 1960. They were powered by a 1,000 horsepower 539T diesel engine, weighed 240,000 pounds and had a top speed of 60 mph. New Haven #0668 (Class DERS-1b) was delivered in 1948. Five New Haven RS-1s lasted into the Penn Central era that began in 1969.

Photos and video show #0668 pulling two boxcars and a caboose on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad.

MELGAR

Good morning, SwSat people!  I don’t have any Halloween decorations on hand, so I’m just going to dive into the archives to see what I can find.

Maine Central EMD GP9 no. 562 is a Lionel model.  This engine was maligned by the “fashionistas” when it was introduced because the yellow paint hue is too light.  I decided it looked great and bought it anyway because MEC locomotives are rather scarce.

It runs well, but was an erratic smoker.  I traced the problem by removing the shell to a bubble that formed on the smoke unit outlet.  No amount of blowing down either stack would dislodge it, I could only break it with the shell off.  Finally, due to a tip I saw on the Forum, I learned to put a finger over one stack while blowing down the other.  That did the trick (what a treat)!

John

Happy SWSat!

No Halloween themes here either Pat. I'll catch up at Christmas.....

I've been keeping RMT's dealers busy lately. This week I received a pair of L&NE ore cars, courtesy of Pat's Trains. These are the all new cars that Walter has been patiently waiting for the factory to get right. The new trucks are very well made, all metal with the small PS-style coupler release tab and brake line.
As John said, like the MEC, not much L&NE out there so I grabbed them when they were announced. I hear there's a new box car in the works too. Good thing Walter is a L&NE fan.

So since this is SWSat!, here's L&NE # 663 (MTH PS-3), giving the new cars a shakedown run.

Have a great Weekend.....

Bob

Here's the Burlington Junction working the concrete plant in Montgomery Illinois.

Happy Switcher Saturday!  On our pike, switchers and subway trains play together all the time.  Here is our little Plymouth moving some R17 cars from the subway yard -

2 switchers working the 'high' line staging track

- walt

Good morning and thanks, Patrick, for getting us started with your frightful Halloween switcher.

Please let me take you back in time to October 1951 and the place is the West Bank of the Hudson River. There you will see a NY Central RS3 diesel road switcher hauling coal and oil:

The model of the locomotive shown in the above video is an MTH PS3 purchased from forum sponsor JR Junction Trains and Hobbies a few years ago.

Happy Halloween, Arnold

@trumpettrain posted:

Love this!

Patrick, will we see you as Santa Claus on Switcher Saturday in December?

Arnold

PW Lionel Lehigh Valley #625 from 1957-58 Have a good Switcher Saturday all!

I was in error yesterday. I had this set ready for today and I posted yesterday😔

Happy SwSat! Here’s a K-Line Plymouth Switcher Wisconsin Central with a six pack of coal hoppers.

Happy Spooky Switcher Saturday!

Today I'm showing my NH RS-3 by Railking

Take Care, Ray

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Happy almost Halloween SwSat!  CN SW1 by MTH is pulling a 4 car Peanuts Gang group of Halloween cars.  The aquarium car is a moving car that has the gang chasing each other.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Well Happy Birthday Don, run some trains and have a cold beer!

Got to say, Trainx treated me well.  I would buy from them again.  Pictured is my new/old switcher from MTH.  My layout is small, so no big and beautiful large steam locomotives.  My hope, though, is to double-head No. 901 with Pennsylvania No. 730, another 0-4-0.  All that muscle will pull a bobber caboose.  We’re talking fantasy here.    I enjoy clutter, so have modeled a hobo encampment in an urban setting.  Great Halloween photos today.

@Sitka- Thanks for the Birthday greeting friend!, Best Wishes Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Happy birthday Don! That’s ON30.

@Don McErlean posted:

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON.

80 years deserves a good day of running trains. Can't think of a better way to relax.

God Speed sir.

@Dallas Joseph thanks for the birthday greeting.

@pennsyfan thanks for your birthday greeting.  ON30 - "got it"!!

thanks fellas

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.
Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Happy Birthday Don.

@MELGAR posted:

New Haven Railroad Alco RS-1 #0668 is an Atlas O Master model (item 6888-2) delivered in March 2004 at MSRP $429.95 with TMCC. I prefer the look of the RS-1 to the RS-2 and RS-3 partly because the roof looks like one on a steam engine. I have an MTH Railking New Haven RS-1 on pre-order.

ALCO built RS-1s between 1941 and 1960. They were powered by a 1,000 horsepower 539T diesel engine, weighed 240,000 pounds and had a top speed of 60 mph. New Haven #0668 (Class DERS-1b) was delivered in 1948. Five New Haven RS-1s lasted into the Penn Central era that began in 1969.

Photos and video show #0668 pulling two boxcars and a caboose on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad.

MELGAR

Nice looker Mel. I have a MTH PS-2 version.

RS-1's are one of my favorites too.

@pennsyfan posted:

I was in error yesterday. I had this set ready for today and I posted yesterday😔

Happy SwSat! Here’s a K-Line Plymouth Switcher Wisconsin Central with a six pack of coal hoppers.

I've got the Kennecott Copper Corp Plymouth set.  I've posted it here before.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Happy Birthday my friend! I hope you enjoyed and are continuing to enjoy the day.

That's a real sharp switcher Marklin put out.  I guess it runs on DC.  Will any HO transformer run it?

@MELGAR and @RayKay, well those New Haven colors are a pretty good Halloween decoration all on their own.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Don - Wishing you a train load of good wishes on your 80th birthday!!!  May you celebrate in grand style and may that grand style include cake and adult beverages but not necessarily at the same time ... LOL!

Thanks for taking the time to find a pic of your wonderful looking Marklin Plymouth switcher in Halloween colors.... it looks terrific!!!

Here's two Halloween switchers I have. Lionel steam & RMT Beep.

Here's my latest switcher from Mr. Muffins.

Charlie

Gave the steamer switchers a break tonight.  💤

ps2 Premier CSX  Genset takes over duties .

Get a good nights rest everybody.  God Speed.

You dress up quite nicely as "Casey Jones" Patrick! For today's SWSAT Sunday Supplement Hallowe'en edition, I'm featuring my newest New Haven acquisition per @coach joe's suggestion above:

She's what Lionel calls a rail bonder, based on their speeder. I haven't been able to find any photos of the prototype, but I imagine she would have been used by the NH during the time before welded rail to keep all the rail joints in good shape on their heavily-trafficked electrified northeast corridor.

Here she is carrying her crew on an inspection and repair run:

Why Lionel chose to use the flashing beacon circuit from their speeder to provide the cab lighting for this rail bonder is beyond me. Frankly, it's really screwy. I'm looking for a constant voltage output on the board that might give proper cab lighting.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well like RSJB18 I don't have any Halloween themed switcher pictures, so I figured at least I would try to find something in the color orange.  This is a bit of a strange item.  It is Marklin from the 1970's and it is from a line that they called Minex.  Not sure if they even sell it anymore, I found this one train set at a huge bargain as it had one of the two cars missing from the set box.  It's what we might call "narrow gauge", in effect it is 0 scale but runs on Marklin 's normal HO gauge track.   So here is my "Halloween" switcher for today.

Best Wishes and Happy Halloween.  OBTW...today is my 80th birthday!!  So I am going to just relax and maybe play trains today

Don

Happy birthday AND happy Hallowe'en Don! Have fun keepin' them trains rollin'!

@Bill Swatos posted:

You dress up quite nicely as "Casey Jones" Patrick! For today's SWSAT Sunday Supplement Hallowe'en edition, I'm featuring my newest New Haven acquisition per @coach joe's suggestion above:

She's what Lionel calls a rail joiner, based on their speeder. I haven't been able to find any photos of the prototype, but I imagine she would have been used by the NH during the time before welded rail to keep all the rail joints in good shape on their heavily-trafficked electrified northeast corridor.

Here she is carrying her crew on an inspection and repair run:

Why Lionel chose to use the flashing beacon circuit from their speeder to provide the cab lighting for this rail joiner is beyond me. Frankly, it's really screwy. I'm looking for a constant voltage output on the board that might give proper cab lighting.

Bill- the Lionel speeder does have a flashing beacon. I wonder if the cab light is wired to the wrong pin on the board? It could also be a programming issue with the TMCC.

@RSJB18 posted:

Bill- the Lionel speeder does have a flashing beacon. I wonder if the cab light is wired to the wrong pin on the board? It could also be a programming issue with the TMCC.

Good thought Bob. 🤔   Seems totally reasonable.

You're speeder looks good.  Good color too.

@Bill Swatos posted:

You dress up quite nicely as "Casey Jones" Patrick! For today's SWSAT Sunday Supplement Hallowe'en edition, I'm featuring my newest New Haven acquisition per @coach joe's suggestion above:

She's what Lionel calls a rail joiner, based on their speeder. I haven't been able to find any photos of the prototype, but I imagine she would have been used by the NH during the time before welded rail to keep all the rail joints in good shape on their heavily-trafficked electrified northeast corridor.

Here she is carrying her crew on an inspection and repair run:

Why Lionel chose to use the flashing beacon circuit from their speeder to provide the cab lighting for this rail joiner is beyond me. Frankly, it's really screwy. I'm looking for a constant voltage output on the board that might give proper cab lighting.

Bill, could you provide a number? When I searched rail joiner here is what I got; both from Lionel and the web.

@pennsyfan posted:

Bill, could you provide a number? When I searched rail joiner here is what I got; both from Lionel and the web.

That's what happened to me, too, but I didn't think to use her roadnumber. It's "18."

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Good thought Bob. 🤔   Seems totally reasonable.

You're speeder looks good.  Good color too.

Thanks Dallas.

My dad was an electrical engineer for Sperry Gyro/Rand/Unisys, etc.... for 45 years. Sperry Rail Service was founded by the same guy.

Had to have the speeder when I saw it.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Bill- the Lionel speeder does have a flashing beacon. I wonder if the cab light is wired to the wrong pin on the board? It could also be a programming issue with the TMCC.

I tried swapping the cab light pin on the connector over from "Ser" to "+5v" and got steady cab light but lost directional control. My speeder's got an incandescent cab light while the joiner has an LED. That might be why "+5v" use causes loss of directional control on the joiner.

@Rustykamel posted:

Got to say, Trainx treated me well.  I would buy from them again.  Pictured is my new/old switcher from MTH.  My layout is small, so no big and beautiful large steam locomotives.  My hope, though, is to double-head No. 901 with Pennsylvania No. 730, another 0-4-0.  All that muscle will pull a bobber caboose.  We’re talking fantasy here.    I enjoy clutter, so have modeled a hobo encampment in an urban setting.  Great Halloween photos today.

I like your weathered 1930 Ford Tudor sedan, too!

@Bill Swatos posted:

I tried swapping the cab light pin on the connector over from "Ser" to "+5v" and got steady cab light but lost directional control. My speeder's got an incandescent cab light while the joiner has an LED. That might be why "+5v" use causes loss of directional control on the joiner.

Well....I'm tapping out.

Need GRJ or one of the other TMCC guru's to chime in here.

Bob

Patrick, @trumpettrain I can't see IMG_9353 in your original post. Can you repost?